Experienced West Coast Eagles defender Tom Cole has said he feels a responsibility to help take the team forward this season, but that every player has a role to play.
The Eagles’ current list includes an exciting combination of 22 players aged 22 and under, a number of veteran leaders, and a crop of middle-aged players bridging the gap.
“It’s just the natural progress of aging throughout a football club,” Cole said.
“There’s a group of us in the middle there that do feel a massive responsibility to take this club forward.
“But there are the young guys, the older guys and us, and I think it’s the responsibility of all of us to play our best footy.
“If we can do that and stay healthy, I think that just gives us the best chance to win more games of footy.”
After an injury-laden 2022 season, Cole made a successful return to the field in 2023 before a cruel twist of fate saw him sustain another ankle injury, resulting in an additional spell on the sidelines.
After a successful pre-season so far, Cole is feeling positive as round one approaches.
“I’m good, body is in a good spot,” Cole said.
“I’ve been a bit managed throughout this pre-season because of the last two years, missing a few games through injury.
“But my body is feeling well and I’m ready to go this weekend.”
The end of last season saw West Coast premiership captain and star defender Shannon Hurn hang up the boots after 333 games with the club.
As the team adjusts to life after ‘Bunga’ in the backline, Cole said his teammates have adapted well so far.
“It’s a bit quieter, he (Hurn) was a grumpy man on the field sometimes,” Cole said with a laugh.
“It is a little bit different, but we were ready for it and guys have stepped up.
“Brady Hough is kind of playing that role that ‘Bunga’ played last year so it’s exciting to see.”
Hurn’s contribution to the club was invaluable, as a teammate and a leader, but Cole said there are multiple players who are ready to step up in his absence.
“He was pretty loud, obviously a great leader, captain of the footy club, All-Australian (vice-captain), so he really directed us out there,” Cole said.
“But we have multiple guys who can do that as well, we’ve got Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass back there as well, Liam Duggen is going to slide back there a bit, and me and ‘Hunty’ (Jayden Hunt).
“Everyone just really takes it upon themselves to help each other out down there.”
Exciting youngster Harley Reid has shown promising signs in his first pre-season in the blue and gold, and Cole said he would be happy if Reid spent some time down back this season.
“He’s looked good, I’m not sure how much he’s going to be back there,” Cole said.
“Obviously he’s very good in the contest so whenever he’s around the ball down there he’s been very good.
“He’s still learning our system a little bit but I think he can slot into anywhere on a football field, he’s got the natural talent to kind of play anywhere so we will happily have him back there.”
West Coast face Fremantle on Saturday in their first pre-season contest, and it will be the first opportunity for the team to battle it out against opposition.
“You just want to see what you’ve been working on the whole pre-season go up against real opposition,” Cole said.
“We’ve had things we’ve been working on since December and we want to see how all those things are going to go against Freo.
“I’m sure they’re the same, they’ve been working all summer, and they want to test what they’ve been working on against us, so that’s what we’re trying to get out of it and try to move forward.”
